and to make the southern cities of israel secure. the defense minister said today and he emphasized this, and we will do anything, and i repeat anything to keep those cities secure. the israelis are emphasizing repeatedly from different sources they'll do whatever it takes. when the americans warn that israel will do more this evening, they're echoing what the israeli spokesman said earlier. this is a very difficult night ahead. >> and martin, i'm sure you heard our colleague talk about the level of tension and how the expectation of what is next is consuming those that he's witnessed in gaza. what are seeing there? is there a worry this will escalate beyond the point that we are now, which is frightening in itself? >> reporter: it certainly is frightening in itself. the big fear is of a ground invasion by israeli forces into gaza. the air attacks are bad enough and killed 13 palestinians at least. they've injured a couple of hundred, and on the israeli side three israelis were killed today, and about 70 are in hospital. most of them